Roof Inspection Report

they write the notesIf you are in the market to buy or sell a home, one of the primary components of the home that will come under scrutiny is the roof. From an insurance perspective, the insurer needs to know that the roof is in good shape. Or must be restored and/or repaired prior to issuing coverage for the home. The roof inspection report is also for protecting both buyer and seller in a real estate transaction. An existing homeowner that looks after their prized investment will also have a roof inspection performed once per year.

The Objectives of the Roof Inspection Report

A trusted roofing company should do the analysis. The motive for a comprehensive report include both exterior and interior inspections. They perform the latter inside the home to confirm that there are no visible structural flaws or moisture damage from the roofing on walls and ceilings.

Roof inspection report

The analysis of the exterior of the roof for obvious wear of materials.  This includes continuous structural alignment and form, fit and function, for deterioration of any exposed joined surfaces, flashing, and faces where materials join. Once both the exterior and interior inspections will complete, they write the notes into a formal roof inspection report.

The roof inspection report document itself is quite simple. If they obtained the report from an escrow company, the report shows the escrow number for the transaction.

Otherwise the roofing company would have its own report numbering system and provide its business and contractor license information.

They observed a general description of the type of roofing materials, the condition of the roof structures and materials, and any needed rework or repair, along with an estimate of costs, as part of their findings in the body of the roof inspection report.

The roofer then signs off on the statements of findings and advice.

If the homeowner elects to use the same roofing company to make repairs noted, an added report will provide after they completed the repairs. The report notes how the repairs were done and the expected longevity of the materials replace.

Since the roof over your head is vital to a sound living experience. Therefore, it is worth considering a roofing company for a roof inspection report that you trust as your partner.

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Roof Restoration

It would not consider a full roof replacement it is a hard fact that the roof of one’s home does not last forever. While some roofing materials can last nearly a lifetime, such as clay or concrete tiles, every type of roof from metal, to cedar shake wood, to asphalt shingles and more will require restoration from time to time. The restoration process barring any catastrophic event such as damage from lightning, tornado, fire or hurricane, to name a few. If you care about your home as an investment, roof restoration is one of those necessary overhead expenses.

The roofing contractor customized restoration of a roof to the type of material from which it make the roof. It is important to realize that restoration can include repairs. But it would not consider a full roof replacement a restoration. In fact, you would get a replacement or new roof.

Roof restoration

Cedar Shake Roofing:

For cedar shake roofing, restoration may involve pressure washing to remove mold from the wood shakes. Also, this accumulated grime and dirt and even the buildup of organic matter such as leaves and bugs.

Following that, they would replace any worn down wood shakes that have warped or cracked. And it might use a protective coating across the roof in sections to allow each to dry and cure.

Concrete Roof Restoration:

For a concrete roof restoration, any broken roof tiles would be replaced with new ones to the aged good ones. Then a pressure wash of the roof’s tiles would be performed. A good roofer will replace flashing that appears worn. They will also replace other structures where you have exit points from the home for venting the kitchen cook stove area, ventilation caps, fireplace flue caps, and more.

They would replace ridgeline materials as needed, along with the associated gabled areas. A quality roofer will apply a protective weather coating as a finishing touch of preventive maintenance.

If you have another kind of roofing material, get knowledgeable about the type of restoration available. When you know you are hiring another to do the work for you, you can certainly feel more confident in choosing the right roof contractor to meet your needs.

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Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingles are a low-cost workable roofing material that is still commonly in use today. Many other roofing materials have taken hold, such as clay or concrete tile and metal. They are easy to install and with the wide availability of this material, costs are competitive which benefits the customer.

While these type of asphalt shingles are cheap, they are not as durable as other materials. In climates with dramatic temperature swings, like the desert southwest United States, the material wears too soon due to thermal shock.

Moreover, if the roof will build in cold weather, the material will not hold. Because the layering effect during construction needs some degree of sun and heat to soften and cure the shingles uniformly across the roof.

Asphalt Shingles

Proper airing applied to the attic beneath the roof increases the strength of shingles. Improper air-conditioning will also shorten the service life of this roofing material. Not all shingles with asphalt are the same. There are different types.

Types of Asphalt Shingles:

Two types of asphalt shingles dominate today’s roofing materials market; organic and fiberglass. There is an irony in the term ‘organic’ asphalt shingles.

They are not as organic as believed. While they contain around 40% more asphalt fabric mixed with their basic paper elements compared to their fiberglass cousin. Asphalt itself is not environmentally friendly. Still, when they apply cohesive and ceramic granules as sealants to the organic shingle, they make a reasonable roofing material. Results in protects against the development of algae.

The fiberglass type of shingles are more strong with tighter bonds and are naturally fire-blocking unlike the organic type. The less fire resistance aspect to organic shingles though can get over by adding other fire retardant treatment to the roof. You can make a case for using either type of asphalt shingle for your roofing needs and for many, the case will be one of budget. Both types are highly cheap and have durability be between 5 to 10 years.

Contact Martin Moran Roofing contractors for Asphalt Shingles installation to the roof today.

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Flat Roof (low Slope)

The use of lightweight accomplishes the membrane the use of lightweight accomplishes the membrane Common logic would tell you that a flat roof for a home or building is not a good idea, not with exposure to the elements of rain, water, snow, ice and such. However, such roofs have a slight enough incline to discourage water from ponding on the roof.

Historically, this type of roof has used materials of tar and gravel, along with the slight slope to keep water from building up and soaking through the roof in to the interior of the building or home it supports. However, experience has shown that in colder climates, the use of these materials when snow and ice built up on the roof, did not hold and thus led to the failure of the roof.

flat roof

Updated, affordable materials for the flat roof have been comfortably in use now for some 30 years. These materials include single ply products such as TPO, PVC and Modified Bitumen

Sealants and adhesives create a membrane sheet, acting as a barrier between water and the home or building. In more expensive versions, the use of lightweight accomplishes the membrane. But strong metals such as copper or tin, as soldered together panels. Such metals can be recycled.

Homeowners and business leaders are building flat roofs with plants and grasses to go green and recycle. These plants have shallow root systems that don’t penetrate the membrane. It turns out that there are quite a few benefits to this.

The topsoil mixed with the plants distributes water up through the plants. This results in preventing water from collecting on top of the membrane.

The True Disadvantage of Flat Roof

One true disadvantage of a flat roof is that it is sensitive to moving and added weight. Therefore, any time there is roof inspection or maintenance, a wear factor occurs. And can lead to structural cracks and failure. While the roof inspection and maintenance cannot be compromised. So it is best to avoid making home improvements that will cause more traffic and weight to the roof, such as adding a deck or enhancing a heating, cooling system.

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Metal Roof

Home construction materials today have come a long way. The days of a metal roof being simply a corrugated piece of scalloped metal are bygone for the most part, at least for home builders. Today’s metals applied to homes, especially for a home’s roof, provide energy efficiency, environmentally-friendly

In reality, these type of roofs were popular in our country as early as the late 18th century. At that time, people regularly used metals such as copper, zinc, and lead.

. Did you know that some of our most treasured monuments out of Washington, D.C have such roofs? Read on to find out which ones!

Metal Roof

Today’s metal roofs are stylish and trendy. As you pass by modern home construction in your area, you might even observe a roof on a home that you think is of another material when in fact you were looking at one made out of metal. Colors are also abundant to coordinate the exterior motif of the home. The metal can form in to many shapes and made to look like wood shakes, concrete clay tiles or shingles. The seams you find with such roofs include this feature called ‘standing-seam’, which is an upside V-shaped long piece of metal used to connect the sections of roof on either side of it. The standing-seam adds a distinctive style

 

Benefits of Meta Roofs:

The benefits of today’s metal roofs include energy efficiency, environmental friendliness, durability and resistance to fire, lightweight, plus they require little maintenance. Instead of absorbing heat, metal reflects it back which helps to keep heat out of a home’s attic. Studies over the past 25 years have suggested that metal can reflect as much as 34% of the heat collected by roofs made out of wood and asphalt shingles. For the environment, the materials in the metal used are typically over 60% recyclable.

The Cost:

The cost of such a roof though is substantially higher than conventional materials. This is because of the intricacy of installing the roof. However, you might be able to justify the cost over time, especially when you research the various metal roofing options afforded by a contractor that can provide you a free estimate. Oh……by the way, the two Washingon, D.C. monuments that use metal roofing? Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and the Washington Monument.

If you are looking for a cost-effective and quality roof installation service, look no further than Martin Moran Roofing.

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Re-Roof

They say………’when it rains, it pours’. If you live in a dry part of the country and that is indeed what happens, be thankful for at least getting rain. But any rain whose water finds its way through your roof inside your home is no fun. Guess what? It is time to re-roof.

Average Roof Life-Span:

The average wood or shingle roof has a lifespan on average of 15 years. There are so many factors though that come in to play on the wear and tear of a home’s re-roof. From the quality and depth of the materials used, to weathering, to slope angles, and more. Since the 1980s, concrete or cement tile roofs have become more common in suburban communities near major metropolitan areas. Even slate became more popular. These newer roofing materials last far longer than the conventional wood or asphalt shingles, to the tune of 40 to 50 total years. So it is no surprise that the cost of homes built with these types of roofs cost more at the outset. For that reason, we are still seeing the most modern homes sometimes built with shingles.

The Re-Roof Cost:

Re-Roofing

A re-roof job for asphalt shingles, the cost is quite high.

On average, replacement shingles cost between $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot, excluding labor. This price does not include the cost of removing the old shingles, installing the new ones, or additional materials. Similarly, a re-roof job for wood costs even more; between $4.00 to 6.00 per square foot, just for the materials.

If you feel your roof is in fine shape and function, get an evaluation once every 2 – 3 years. Shingle roofs use flashing and tar in their underpinnings. These materials are temporary and typically are only effective for 2 to 3 years at a time. This resulted in no re-roofing during this period. Left for more years, your roof can wear prematurely.

For wood shake and shingles, you might not notice curling, warping of wood and even other wear factors such as mold, fungus and more; all of which when left alone will accelerate the need to re-roof. Having your roof inspected at regular intervals will allow you and your trusted roofing contractor to work together to get the most mileage out of your home’s roof.

Consider using a licensed and certified roofing contractor who will give you an unbiased opinion on your roof’s condition. This should be as part of a free estimate.

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Roof Certification

For those of you who own homes, the responsibility of maintaining your property can be daunting at times. This happens especially when it seems like its one thing after another with maintenance. One of the most expensive improvement factors is your roof. If you are preparing your home for sale or trying to get a lender’s attention for a loan, your roof will come under inquiry as will the rest of the property. If you have recently had roof maintenance performed or you are thinking to have it, be sure to get a roof certification from the roofing company that does your work.

roof inspector

Roof Certification Duration:

Lenders require a certified defect-free roof with a minimum 2-year warranty for weather protection. Certification duration may vary. The roof certification is a necessary need for lenders when approving loans. Buyers or their lenders have the right to request and review the certification following a home inspection.

Other parties that can request a roof certification include your county government for estimate your property’s value relative to the most current valuation on file. In turn, a change to your property taxes might be in order, up or down.

What is Roof Certification?:

The roof certification form is a straightforward document that is signed by a bonafide roof inspector. A home’s roof serves as a crucial shield against the elements of weather. To ensure its solidity, lenders require a certification. This certification states that the roof has undergone inspection and is under warranty for 2 year. However, the specific time period may vary. The certification guarantees that the roof is free from defects, both in terms of its form and its performance. The duration of the warranty varies from location to location.

If you have not kept up with the roofing maintenance on your home but feel the roof has appeared visibly fine and no water is coming in to your house, you might have a false sense of security. It is wise to hire a roofing inspector to look at things that might be a problem that you are not aware to limit the cost of repairs needed before a roof certification is made.

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Roof Gutters

Rain upon a home has its natural weathering effect. Horizontal roof gutters are crucial for preventing water accumulation at the home’s base and protecting the foundation. They effectively redirect rainwater from the roof’s edges, ensuring it flows down to the ground and away from the foundation.

Further,gutters have downspouts that guide water from the roof to drain out at the base using an ‘L’ elbow gutter.

roof gutterGutters come in a variety of materials such as copper, aluminum, zinc, cast iron, pvc, and forms of steel.

Optimizing Water Drainage with Proper Roof Gutters Positioning:

Roof Gutters’ shape depends on the slope and angle of the roof’s edge or eave. Therefore,to enhance water drainage, we should position the gutter at a slight angle as we run it. In climates where snow can occur, we should place the gutter below the roof’s eave line. This will not allow the snow to block the flow of water and overtax the gutter to failure.

Importance of Regular Roof Maintenance:

It is important to monitor the health of your roof gutters from time to time. This becomes more important especially if you have trees near your home. In the spring, the problem of debris build up could be because of falling blossoms. In the fall, the leaves themselves. Leaves and gutters along eaves don’t mix well. If the roof gutters get clogged, several undesirable things can happen: water can back up, causing leaks in the home where they shouldn’t occur, and stagnant water can create breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other bugs that easily enter and exit your home.

So,if your home’s roof gutters need repair or refresh, or you notice you are getting any sort of moisture inside your home, you can call a reliable roofing contractor that can provide you a free estimate of your gutters’ makeover. Contact Martin Moran Roofing if you are looking for Roof Gutter

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